Bring lots of 1 dollar bills

[Turbo6ta]

I was thinking ...

 

Since just about everyone tips a couple of bucks for room service, plus maybe the bar wait staff, plus other various things on the boat ... maybe it might be a good idea to bring a bunch of 1 dollar bills.

 

Maybe I'm wrong, but changing 20 or 100 dollar bills on the boat just to get some 1 dollar bills may be a real pain.

 

Any truth to this?

[cruisebie]

It is a good idea to bring some $1's. I usually bring about $50 in $1's, which is way more than I have ever needed. Also, I bring some $5's & $10's so I will have small bills while ashore & for tipping porters, etc. I have never had a problem changing bills at the purser's desk when needed. Just might be a pain if you had to stand in a long line to do it.

[dobiemom]

It starts as soon as you leave the house, so lots of $1 bills (and some $5s) are on my packing list for all my travels. :)

[MrPete]

Only if you want to.

 

You can tip on both on your S&S account.

 

My only cash tips are still if I "hire" a porter getting off the ship, or a land tour.

[ready2cruzagain]

It is definitely a good idea, I always take 50 ones.

[kingoftheicedragons]

Cash tips on board are generally only for room service. If you want to tip others, it's a lot easier and more convenient if you tip on your S&S card. If you tip your steward or waiters more than they get automatically, it's going to be more than a dollar here and a dollar there.

 

I'm with Mr. Pete, most of my cash tips are for the porters and on the excursions.

[Turbo6ta]

 

I have never had a problem changing bills at the purser's desk when needed.

 

Just might be a pain if you had to stand in a long line to do it.

 

Thank's everyone for the fast replies ... As far as the long line at the purser's desk to change money ... that's what I was thinking too. I would like to avoid that.

 

jeeeze ... you folks are up early this morning! :) 5:50am here in Florida!

[MrPete]

Thank's everyone for the fast replies ... As far as the long line at the purser's desk to change money ... that's what I was thinking too. I would like to avoid that.

 

jeeeze ... you folks are up early this morning! :) 5:50am here in Florida!

 

Same in NY. DW didn't tell me we only had decaf coffee yesterday, so I'm up with a caffeine headache. :mad:

[Turbo6ta]

I'm getting pretty "hyped up" right now about our upcoming cruise.

 

Leaving on the cruise this Thursday, starting with 2 1/2 hour drive to Miami ... and then is begins! :D

[Crusing from Colorado]

Thank's everyone for the fast replies ... As far as the long line at the purser's desk to change money ... that's what I was thinking too. I would like to avoid that.

 

jeeeze ... you folks are up early this morning! :) 5:50am here in Florida!

 

It's 4:04 AM here in Colorado, I normally get up about 3:30 or so. Haven't used an alarm clock in years.

[michelle1836]

I must be a late riser! we always take $1s and $5s for extra ship tips and excursion tips

[cruisebie]

jeeeze ... you folks are up early this morning! :) 5:50am here in Florida!

 

Much too early! Had to get up & take the dog out.

 

The trick to avoiding lines at the purser's desk is to go at "off" times. If I need to go for some reason, I go in the evening when everyone is at shows, the casino, etc. It's always busy on the first day and the day/night before disembarkment.

 

Have a great cruise! I wish I was close enough to a port to get there in 2 1/2 hrs!

[brutusmom]

Its always easy to get bills broken at the casinos. Just remember to leave with them and not put them in the slot machine:D

[bmckim]

Last cruise I brought $150 in 1s. Tipped $1 per drink, and used them for room service, porters, etc. I think I was left with less than $10 is singles at the end of the cruise.

[golfadj]

Last cruise I brought $150 in 1s. Tipped $1 per drink, and used them for room service, porters, etc. I think I was left with less than $10 is singles at the end of the cruise.

 

We bring about 20 1's and if more needed easy to get.

 

you do realize you are already paying a 15% tip on all drink already I trust.

[H82seaUgo]

We bring about 20 1's and if more needed easy to get.

 

you do realize you are already paying a 15% tip on all drink already I trust.

 

and nary a buyback.

[bmckim]

We bring about 20 1's and if more needed easy to get.

 

you do realize you are already paying a 15% tip on all drink already I trust.

 

I do. With Cheers the bartenders actually don't get 15% of the drink price from what I was able to gather from talking with them. Seems like it is closer to about $.60 a drink or so. We had amazing service from our bar waiters and bar tenders, which I am sure was due to the tips.

[BIG_Steve]

If I drive to Miami, I just make sure I have 5 or so 1's more if we're flying. Enough to tip the porter at the port. If a server earns more then the automatic tip, I'll add it to the signature slip. If I tip the room steward above the automatic tip, I hand him an envelope with cash at the end, plenty of time to change out money in ports. I do however, make sure I have some 5's and 10's in my wallet. Cabies are the same everywhere, none of them can make change ;) :rolleyes: :mad:

 

We hit the casino everyday, so I can change out there too if I'm out of small bills.

[golfadj]

I do. With Cheers the bartenders actually don't get 15% of the drink price from what I was able to gather from talking with them. Seems like it is closer to about $.60 a drink or so. We had amazing service from our bar waiters and bar tenders, which I am sure was due to the tips.

 

I am pretty sure they do get the 15% but you might want to post this on JH fb page to be sure.

 

Have heard of bartenders giving a better pour but not buybacks.

[gelo7]

I always bring a wad of singles.

[JeanieTheMom]

One of the first tips I learned on Cruise Critic was to take ones and fives for tips and such. I usually take $20 or $30 in ones. I may come home with some, but I would rather do that than to have to try to get change on board.

[hywaybeachbum]

Just off Freedom and there was a Kiosk by the pursers desk where you could check your sail & sign account and it also was a bill changer.

[buffyblue]

We took $100 in $2.00 bills when we went on our cruise in January. Those were a big big hit..especially in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. In fact, we were changing them out for the locals. :D

 

We also used them to tip room service etc. We could have used considerably more.

 

Just a thought and it worked out very well for us.

[MrPete]

We took $100 in $2.00 bills when we went on our cruise in January. Those were a big big hit..especially in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. In fact, we were changing them out for the locals. :D

 

We also used them to tip room service etc. We could have used considerably more.

 

Just a thought and it worked out very well for us.

 

Tips should work out well for "them", not you.

 

But realize even in the US, $2 bills are still thought of as counterfeit, and worse outside the US. This is why they became the money of choice in the subculture of insertion into g-strings.

[richstowe]

Only if you want to.

 

You can tip on both on your S&S account.

 

My only cash tips are still if I "hire" a porter getting off the ship, or a land tour.

What about room sevice. How do you put this on your S&S account?

 

I am pretty sure they do get the 15% but you might want to post this on JH fb page to be sure.

 

Have heard of bartenders giving a better pour but not buybacks.

What is this JH fb page you speak of ?:D